How to Align your Life

What do you need in order to live a life that’s not conflicting or contradictory? A life that’s aligned with your purpose, goals and your vision.

Belief it or not we all have to visit- revisit this question often so we can evaluate and make the changes necessary in order to live the kind of life we want. Today we will go over the questions you need to ponder and reflect on in order to live a life that’s aligned with your purpose.

How can I align my purpose and my life?

Start with your Purpose in Life

You and I, we have a purpose. We have a reason to wake up every single morning and be grateful for another day.

And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Surah 51- 56)

Did you then think that we created you in vain and that you would not be returned to us? (23:115)

Then life happens and just like that things go from being straightforward to complicating and at times confusing.

In fact, it is for this reasons why we were sent the prophets as examples and guidance because as people we are affected by our environment, those around us and of course the shaytaan. By studying the lives of the prophets and those who were around them we can learn how to stay focused on our purpose and align it to our lives, commitments, work and relationships and make sure they don’t conflict.

Action Step: After pondering and reflecting think of all the things you do that bring you no value, they don’t help you grow as a person or get you closer to Allaah. Let go off those things, leave them behind in 2017 inshaa allah.

Having a vision and life goal

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. Henry David Thoreau

If you know your purpose, it’s time to use it to direct and lead your life. To make decisions based on what your vision, your castle in the air. That is why I love this quote, it can be interpreted in many different ways but for me, it supports the idea of having one ultimate life goal. One that does not reduce life to a series of goals that you aim for, reach and then move on.

Instead, it’s a life goal or a “long term goal” that supports your purpose and focuses on the hereafter. One that you know you will never really tick off, not in this life anyway.

Ibn Katheer said:
Whoever competes in doing righteous deeds in this world and wins the contest, in the hereafter he will be among the first to attain reward and honor, for the recompense matches the nature of the deed and as you do, so you will be requited. Tafseer Ibn Katheer (7/517)

Action Step: Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasalam) said, ‘When you ask from Allah, ask Him for Al Firdaus, for it is the middle of Paradise and it is the highest place and from it the rivers of Paradise flow.’ (Bukhari, Ahmad, Baihaqi)

Do I take the time to stop and enjoy the simple things around me?

Living a simple life

Living a simple life is a life free of distractions and busying yourself with the material things that really don’t matter. In a way living a simpler life means being more mindful and managing your time and space better.

Research has shown that there is a strong connection between physical clutter and mental clutter. For most us the more clutter we have, the more depressed we’re likely to feel and the less energy and focused we are.

The clutter on the outside makes you feel more mentally disorganized and less focused.

Action Step: What can you do to reduce clutter? On a physical level (outer space) it might be reducing the clutter in your home and living space. On an emotional/ physiological level (inner space) it may mean reducing mental noise. By continuing to be surrounded by clutter you are missing an opportunity to be surrounded by contentment, peace and gratitude.

Living a simple life usually leads to the next point.

Being Intentional

‘Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasalam) said: Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate.” Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

How merciful Allah is, for making many of our daily tasks a form of ibaadah if we have the right intention as the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wasalam) said a person is only going to have that which they intended.

However, if we are not mindful and we are distracted or busy than those daily tasks are merely habits that we form without real thought. For a habit/ daily task to be worship it has to be purely and solely be done to earn the pleasure of Allah [subhanahu wa tala].

Action Step: Which habits/ routines can you replace into worship just by setting a sincere intention?

Announcing Intentional Mornings- Align your life and goals

As the New Year is around the corner, many of us will be setting new goals for ourselves. Goals that we hope to tick off during the year but this year I want you to consider the bigger vision, the one that aligns your goals and life.

With Intentional Mornings, you get the step by step road map to help you set a morning routine that is optimized for spiritual and personal growth so that you can achieve all your goals in 2018 Inshaa allaah. Sign upHEREto pre- order and be the first to get your hands on the digital Ebook, Workbook and Daily Journal.